There are things that you can do to ensure that you have enough drinking water and safely dispose of human waste in case disaster were to strike in the Bay Area.

water tips

• in a disaster, water supplies may be cut off or contaminated.  Be sure to have 1 gallon of drinking water per person (per day) to last at least one week - don't forget your pets!
  
• rotate water supplies every 6 months.
  
• seal water containers tightly, label them, and store in a cool dark place. Do no place plastic bottles directly on concrete.
  
• sources of water in your home include: ice cubes, toilet tank, pipes, and your hot water tank.
  
• the easiest ways to treat water are to bring it to a rolling boil for 5-10 minutes or to disinfect it with regular (unscented) bleach.  Use 8 drops per gallon if the water is clear and 16 drops if it's cloudy.  Sit and leave standing for 30 minutes before use.

disposal of human waste

• if toilet is standing, a heavy-duty garbage bag can be draped or inserted in the bowl to contain urine and feces (bowel movements).
  
• if toilet is not standing, a 5-gallon bucket will work as a receptacle for human waste. Line the bucket with a heavy-duty garbage bag to contain the waste material.
  
• depending upon number of times used, the garbage bag should be removed at least daily or more often if several people are in the household. The waste should be buried in a pit or hole and covered with a minimum of 12 inches of soil.
  
• the toilet waste must be removed to a safe area. Be certain to WASH HANDS properly if your supply of water will allow. If you have not stored enough water for this, use antiseptic hand gel or wipes.

power outage tips

• keep emergency supplies on hand, including:
  • flashlights with fresh batteries
  • a portable, battery-powered radio
  • a wind-up or battery-powered clock
  • water & nonperishable food
  • a manual can opener
    
• know how to manually open and close any electric garage door, security door or gates.
  
• identify the operating requirements of gas equipment. During an outage, appliances with electronic ignitions will not work because electricity is needed to ignite the natural gas. In addition, appliances requiring fans or other electric devices to run (such as central heating units and gas clothes dryers) won't operate.
  

 

Related Plumbing Articles & Resources • What to do when disaster strikes! San Francisco Mayor's Office of Emergency Services • Food and Water in an Emergency American Red Cross • Ready U.S. Department of Homeland Security